WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.600 --> 00:00:02.720 Hudson River Radio dot com. 2 00:00:03.040 --> 00:00:06.639 It beats listening to nothing. My goodness, it's. 3 00:00:08.240 --> 00:00:08.880 Being Frank. 4 00:00:09.080 --> 00:00:14.919 Fright were the only way to be is Frank. Hello everyone, 5 00:00:15.039 --> 00:00:17.679 and welcome to being Frank. We're the only way to 6 00:00:17.879 --> 00:00:21.000 be is Frank. I'm your host, FRANKL. Born On, and 7 00:00:21.079 --> 00:00:23.039 i'd like to thank you for joining us on what 8 00:00:23.160 --> 00:00:27.839 we like to call the Intelligent Conversation Podcast, where no 9 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:32.560 conversations out of bounds and all points of view are welcome. 10 00:00:33.039 --> 00:00:36.840 Regular listeners to the podcast know our routine is to 11 00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:39.359 record live to tape and I give you the dates 12 00:00:39.399 --> 00:00:42.560 so you have some context and relevance. And it's the 13 00:00:42.679 --> 00:00:46.840 third of December. The height of the holiday season is 14 00:00:46.920 --> 00:00:51.039 upon us entertaining and being entertained by family and friends 15 00:00:51.119 --> 00:00:54.039 is what makes the season so special. But what if 16 00:00:54.079 --> 00:00:57.719 you had a disability and made that joy nearly impossible? Well, 17 00:00:57.759 --> 00:01:00.439 let's have some intelligent conversation on the side object with 18 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:05.159 the CEO and Executive director of Bridges, an organization dedicated 19 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:09.280 through advocacy and leadership to the premise that everyone deserves 20 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:15.159 to live an independent life. Carlos Montinez LMSW is the 21 00:01:15.239 --> 00:01:19.840 chief executive officer and executive director of Bridges, a local 22 00:01:19.920 --> 00:01:23.920 nonprofit organization in Rockland County, New York, guided by its 23 00:01:23.959 --> 00:01:28.840 mission of advocacy and leadership towards the creation and development 24 00:01:28.920 --> 00:01:33.359 of a universally designed community for all people, including people 25 00:01:33.400 --> 00:01:36.920 with disabilities. He has been with the organization since twenty 26 00:01:36.959 --> 00:01:41.760 ten and became CEO in twenty eighteen. Bridges and Minister's 27 00:01:41.879 --> 00:01:46.079 programs in the community that serve various members of that community, 28 00:01:46.120 --> 00:01:52.079 including veterans with PTSD, TBI and other disabilities, people with 29 00:01:52.239 --> 00:01:58.879 chronic medical conditions, multiple disabilities, mental health disabilities, and individuals 30 00:01:58.879 --> 00:02:02.719 diverted and or are re entering the community from the 31 00:02:02.840 --> 00:02:07.439 criminal justice system. Welcome Carlos Martinez. I know you're a 32 00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:09.560 busy man and took time out to be with us 33 00:02:09.560 --> 00:02:11.560 and we appreciate it. Thank you for joining us here 34 00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:12.199 and being Frank. 35 00:02:12.879 --> 00:02:15.960 I'm excited to be here. Thanks, Rank Carlos. 36 00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:17.840 Is my custom. You know, we kind of get the 37 00:02:17.919 --> 00:02:20.960 nuts and bolts in a CV, a curriculum, VTA, a 38 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:23.879 little bio, but let's get a little bit behind them. Man, 39 00:02:24.280 --> 00:02:28.719 tell us a little bit about a typical day for you. 40 00:02:28.840 --> 00:02:30.319 What is it exactly that you do? 41 00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:35.159 Yeah? Absolutely, you know, as I'm fortunate and in a 42 00:02:35.560 --> 00:02:42.280 really amazing position to you know, sort of steward an 43 00:02:42.360 --> 00:02:46.439 organization that has for many years founded by people with 44 00:02:46.479 --> 00:02:52.280 disabilities to ensure that the community has the right resources 45 00:02:52.280 --> 00:02:57.159 through the folks that work here Bridges to experience independence 46 00:02:57.159 --> 00:02:58.680 for themselves whatever that might be. 47 00:02:58.800 --> 00:02:58.960 Right. 48 00:02:59.039 --> 00:03:02.520 If you you find a barrier you know, finding a job, 49 00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:05.240 or you know, because of a disability, or you find 50 00:03:05.240 --> 00:03:08.759 a barrier finding a place to live because of a disability, 51 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:10.639 this is what Bridges is here. 52 00:03:10.520 --> 00:03:15.280 For, you know, to help remove those barriers that unfortunately 53 00:03:15.639 --> 00:03:21.319 are placed by societal what we're societal norms or societal attitudes, 54 00:03:22.919 --> 00:03:28.639 or or physical barriers that prevent people from accessing public 55 00:03:28.680 --> 00:03:31.639 places for example. That's what we're here for. We're here. 56 00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:34.199 We're here to help remove barriers so that people with 57 00:03:34.280 --> 00:03:42.439 disabilities have equitable access to care, to services, to opportunities 58 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:47.039 that many of us take for granted in the community. 59 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:50.319 So I think that's an important part. What are some 60 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:53.960 of the methods you know, it sounds wonderful, but it 61 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:56.960 takes work. What are some of the methods that you 62 00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:00.280 have to apply to get these things done and make 63 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:03.719 some reality again on a daily basis. I mean I'm 64 00:04:03.719 --> 00:04:06.719 sure on the broad lobbying, funding, et cetera. But on 65 00:04:06.759 --> 00:04:09.199 a daily basis, what is it that you do that 66 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:12.240 literally helps accomplish these things? 67 00:04:12.599 --> 00:04:16.120 Absolutely, I mean it from time to time. It can 68 00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:19.040 be at the very individual level. I mean it's helping 69 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:24.680 someone build their confidence and understand that they two have 70 00:04:24.759 --> 00:04:28.319 a voice, that they can use it to advocate on 71 00:04:28.360 --> 00:04:31.759 their own behalf. Sometimes it's just a matter of speaking 72 00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:35.399 up depending on the situation. For example, you know a 73 00:04:35.480 --> 00:04:40.600 person who is employed and seeking nothing special but a 74 00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:45.360 reasonable accommodation, for example, something that by law is able 75 00:04:45.399 --> 00:04:50.079 to be granted and support someone career, you know, or 76 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:55.800 job circumstance. It's teaching them how to ask the right questions, 77 00:04:55.839 --> 00:04:58.879 how to bring it up and be confident about those things. 78 00:04:59.319 --> 00:05:03.680 And sometimes it can be broader. It could be working 79 00:05:03.720 --> 00:05:07.399 with a group of people who are experiencing similar discrimination 80 00:05:07.720 --> 00:05:11.759 or similar circumstances. We always go at it in a 81 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:15.439 non punitive way. We are first approach to government, to 82 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:20.600 public places, and even to business owners and jobs is 83 00:05:20.639 --> 00:05:24.120 to be nonpunitive. Is to provide education, to provide support 84 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:27.639 to that business in whatever fashion or way they need 85 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:31.000 it in order to help the two come together in 86 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:35.600 a very amicable way. Very few times do we go 87 00:05:35.879 --> 00:05:38.439 the extent of litigation, which we've done in the past 88 00:05:39.360 --> 00:05:42.199 for businesses that don't want to comply with the a DA, 89 00:05:42.360 --> 00:05:46.759 which is a law that affords people with disabilities equitable 90 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:48.040 access to opportunities. 91 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:53.279 That's the advocacy that you mentioned in your brochures, et cetera. Okay, 92 00:05:53.839 --> 00:05:59.600 but you know, I think within the name itself, it's 93 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:03.160 was formerly the rock Weed Dependent Living Center, which certainly 94 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:06.360 is descriptive, but so is Bridges in a sense. And 95 00:06:07.399 --> 00:06:09.000 the reason I brought it up now it seems to 96 00:06:09.040 --> 00:06:11.120 be what you're talking about. You're looking for a bridge 97 00:06:11.160 --> 00:06:14.839 between these people and their needs and the community. Yeah, 98 00:06:15.240 --> 00:06:17.199 talk a little to that that, you know the name is. 99 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:19.519 It is a metaphor, if you will. 100 00:06:19.879 --> 00:06:23.519 Absolutely you know, you know, we a few years ago 101 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:25.639 we changed the name from Rocklin the pend the Living 102 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:28.360 Center to Bridges. In fact, we didn't really change it. 103 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:31.399 Rocklin Dependent Living Center is still our legal name. The 104 00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:35.680 DBA is Bridges doing business as is an add on 105 00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:37.920 you can tie into the legal name of any business, 106 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:41.759 and we did that because Bridges was synonymous with the 107 00:06:41.839 --> 00:06:44.279 work we did. It's sort of bridging the gap or 108 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:49.920 connecting people to the right resources, or getting folks from 109 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:54.279 a place where they didn't achieve independence to achieve independence. 110 00:06:54.920 --> 00:06:57.519 And that's where we hope the add on or the 111 00:06:57.600 --> 00:06:59.920 name change was able to do, is to give people 112 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:02.720 the clarity on what Rocketing and the Pendolic Center did, 113 00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:05.240 because most of the time we were confused with and 114 00:07:05.279 --> 00:07:09.079 assisted living facility, a nursing home at times, even a 115 00:07:09.160 --> 00:07:12.120 hospital we got one time, and that's not what we 116 00:07:12.279 --> 00:07:15.839 do are it's actually against our very charter as a 117 00:07:15.959 --> 00:07:19.000 nonprofit and it's as a center for independent living to 118 00:07:19.160 --> 00:07:23.120 provide any housing. Our work is community based. It's to 119 00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:26.639 help people find the resources the housing that they need 120 00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:29.920 in the community and or to fight to make it 121 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:33.519 available if it's not, so that people with disabilities have 122 00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:37.120 the opportunity to live with dignity in the community. So 123 00:07:37.399 --> 00:07:41.600 Bridges was a way to broaden the you know, the 124 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:45.040 ideation and the perspective in the community of who we 125 00:07:45.160 --> 00:07:48.399 are so that people understood what we did. And hopefully 126 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:52.000 Bridges does a little bit of that, and if not, 127 00:07:52.160 --> 00:07:54.360 then Rocket Independent Living Center is just that, it's a 128 00:07:54.439 --> 00:07:59.319 center that enhances independent living and that's what our purpose is. 129 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:02.839 In the community is to help people achieve independence. For 130 00:08:02.959 --> 00:08:04.439 anyone who walks through our doors. 131 00:08:05.160 --> 00:08:08.199 Well, so you mentioned doors literally to talk about it 132 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:11.279 as a little bit, as a physical place, as a campus. 133 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:14.399 It is a thing. It doesn't just exist in people's minds. 134 00:08:15.240 --> 00:08:16.839 It is a place. Talk a little bit about that. 135 00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:20.439 Yeah, so you know, we're located here in the palis 136 00:08:20.439 --> 00:08:23.560 State Center Mall for those who don't know, and it's 137 00:08:23.920 --> 00:08:26.319 you know, it's our home base. We used to be 138 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:29.480 located in New City and Route forty five in New 139 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:32.440 Hampstead if people might be aware of that area. But 140 00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:35.080 you know, we we thought a lot and hard about 141 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:39.080 where our next location would be and it you know, 142 00:08:39.159 --> 00:08:40.960 it may have come to a surprise a lot of 143 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:43.759 people when we moved to the Palistate Center Mall, but 144 00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:45.879 it was one of the best decisions we made as 145 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:49.279 an organization for a number of reasons. Number one, the 146 00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:52.320 mall is central in the county and you can reach 147 00:08:52.840 --> 00:08:55.360 the mall from any point in the county through public 148 00:08:55.399 --> 00:09:00.639 transportation if you took the bus, and also the roads 149 00:09:00.679 --> 00:09:02.240 to get to the mall as well. You know, if 150 00:09:02.279 --> 00:09:06.000 you're driving, it's it's a pretty easy road down whichever 151 00:09:06.240 --> 00:09:10.519 whether you're in Harvestrow or Suffern or Niak. And it 152 00:09:10.840 --> 00:09:14.159 made it that much more accessible for people with disabilities 153 00:09:14.200 --> 00:09:17.159 who were looking to connect with us and receive our services. 154 00:09:18.120 --> 00:09:19.840 We thought it was going to be an issue at first, 155 00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:21.679 because you know, we thought, you know, who wants to 156 00:09:21.720 --> 00:09:22.320 go to the mall? 157 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:25.720 We know the kind of a commercial kind of feel 158 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:27.639 to it. It's like, what are we what are we 159 00:09:27.799 --> 00:09:28.399 selling here? 160 00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:31.000 Quote unquote right, And then you also have the public 161 00:09:31.080 --> 00:09:33.879 image of the mall that's not the greatest at the moment, 162 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:35.840 you know, with where it's. 163 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:38.759 Going rebating and the emptiness and yes. 164 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:43.080 Absolutely, you know, but the reality is it's central location. 165 00:09:43.480 --> 00:09:47.159 It's one of the most accessible locations as long as 166 00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:52.000 the technology works and uh and and it has been 167 00:09:52.120 --> 00:09:55.600 a really amazing place for us to meet and garner 168 00:09:55.679 --> 00:09:59.559 support from our community members and garner support from other 169 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:01.840 And it's here in the mall. I mean, we have 170 00:10:01.960 --> 00:10:07.000 a great relationship with Target, with Macy's and some other 171 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:11.440 storefronts near us that have never known about us and 172 00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:14.159 now wants to support the work that we do. 173 00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:17.519 And that's been a very you could place, how convenient 174 00:10:17.559 --> 00:10:19.440 you could place clients for work there? 175 00:10:19.559 --> 00:10:22.159 If yeah, Wow, and that's exactly what's happened. I mean, 176 00:10:22.279 --> 00:10:26.159 for employment purposes, we've helped folks achieve employment goals here 177 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:30.039 in the mall and in various locations. So yeah, to 178 00:10:30.120 --> 00:10:33.679 your point, Frank, it has been such a fruitful relationship. 179 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:37.519 And the mall management, you know, has been a good 180 00:10:37.559 --> 00:10:40.759 partner to us, truthfully, and that's been something that has 181 00:10:40.840 --> 00:10:41.960 been helpful for us as well. 182 00:10:43.200 --> 00:10:47.159 Carl, you mentioned your wide range of services. Let's talk 183 00:10:47.159 --> 00:10:52.759 about the people who take advantage of those services. Tell 184 00:10:52.840 --> 00:10:54.840 us a little bit about your clients and the range 185 00:10:54.919 --> 00:10:57.559 of clients that you actually see there. Yeah. 186 00:10:57.639 --> 00:11:03.159 Absolutely, you know, it's there's a misno more about organizations 187 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:08.559 like ours, uh, disability service or organizations. We serve the 188 00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:12.240 whole gamut of disability, right, so the youngest to the 189 00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:19.440 oldest disabilities. You don't see disabilities. You see cognitive mental health, uh, 190 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:24.240 chronic medical conditions, you name it. Uh. And and the 191 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:27.039 other part of it is that it doesn't matter if 192 00:11:27.080 --> 00:11:29.879 you're rich or poor either. At the end of the day, 193 00:11:29.879 --> 00:11:32.000 if you have a disability and you have a need 194 00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:35.200 and you have questions and you need support, we're here 195 00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:38.080 for you. Uh. And that's the beauty of our organization. 196 00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:41.039 It was founded by people with disabilities, and to and 197 00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:44.200 to this day, more than half of our governing board 198 00:11:44.279 --> 00:11:47.159 are people with disabilities, more than half of our staff 199 00:11:47.240 --> 00:11:51.480 are people with disabilities. And that's intentional because that was 200 00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:52.039 my next. 201 00:11:51.960 --> 00:11:55.600 Question, But both do both? And what are your clients like? 202 00:11:55.639 --> 00:11:57.919 What are your employees like? But but please continue, I 203 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:00.279 want to develop that a little bitco That's exactly right. 204 00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:04.759 It's intentional because you know there has been you know, 205 00:12:04.799 --> 00:12:09.159 I'm a licensed social worker, and let even licensed social 206 00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:12.720 workers know the value of the peer approach. You know, 207 00:12:13.559 --> 00:12:16.799 there's value in someone who has been there, done that, 208 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:21.879 has has understood the challenges that life is brought because 209 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:25.519 of a disability, and now it's helping you walk through 210 00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:30.120 that process. There's nothing better than having a peer that's 211 00:12:30.200 --> 00:12:33.559 helping you do that. And I've seen it in every 212 00:12:33.799 --> 00:12:38.120 area of our services, including our vision services, where we 213 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:41.559 have folks who are coming in for help, who are 214 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:45.840 developing some level of blindness or impairment to their vision 215 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:49.799 and they're walking through this process through the help of 216 00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:54.639 folks who understand and there's nothing more empowering and more 217 00:12:54.759 --> 00:12:58.559 encouraging when they're meeting with folks and then getting the 218 00:12:58.679 --> 00:13:01.399 help they need the way that they need it. And 219 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:03.720 that's where the peer approach is so valuable. And that's 220 00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:06.519 what our independent living centers are known for. It's the 221 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:11.480 peer approach. And even with the social workers, and there's 222 00:13:11.559 --> 00:13:13.639 values in the psychiatrists and the social workers, and we 223 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:16.960 make those referrals as needed, you know. There the our 224 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:20.039 organizations thrive on the peer approach, and every grant and 225 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:23.440 program and service that we provide, uh comes with that 226 00:13:24.200 --> 00:13:25.200 that angle in mind. 227 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:30.320 Yeah, I'm sure at a daily basis, you get and 228 00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:34.360 see inspirational things, you get inspiration. Is there one in 229 00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:38.279 particular that that sticks out in your mind that really 230 00:13:38.759 --> 00:13:42.200 inspires you and kind of captures the message of bridges? 231 00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:44.799 Can you share that with us? Or or more than one? 232 00:13:45.639 --> 00:13:47.039 Oh my goodness, there's so many. 233 00:13:48.440 --> 00:13:51.519 I'm sure if there might be one or two whatever, 234 00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:54.840 that's something that really what just the top. 235 00:13:54.679 --> 00:13:57.600 Of your head right away, I'll share, I'll shore, I'll 236 00:13:57.600 --> 00:14:01.799 share a couple. You know, they're the Our organization's mission 237 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:05.679 is obviously achieving independence. As I mentioned earlier, is it's 238 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:10.799 helping folks achieve independence. The one of the staples of 239 00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:14.200 what we do as a center for independent living. It 240 00:14:14.759 --> 00:14:18.919 is is sort of going against the traditional model of 241 00:14:19.159 --> 00:14:22.919 healthcare that has existed for so long in the nursing 242 00:14:23.039 --> 00:14:28.240 home arena. You know, I am a person. This is 243 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:32.120 just my personal opinion that nursing home is an antiquated 244 00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:38.200 environment of healthcare and that it needs to be updated substantially. 245 00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:40.679 I mean, I've worked in a nursing home as a 246 00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:43.559 social worker, and I don't have anything good to say 247 00:14:43.559 --> 00:14:49.279 about it. In many ways, it vegetates perfectly capable brains 248 00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:52.519 to something that of a of a young child, and 249 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:56.159 it's disheartening to see when you see that interaction, and 250 00:14:56.519 --> 00:14:57.120 it's it's. 251 00:14:56.960 --> 00:14:58.559 Been on the other I've been on just to chair 252 00:14:58.600 --> 00:14:59.879 with I've been on the other side with the f 253 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:04.200 family member. It's they're not generally speaking, they're not pleasant places, 254 00:15:04.519 --> 00:15:08.120 and they're not conducive to good living. But please continue starts. 255 00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:10.320 It's got to add that I'm relating totally to what 256 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:10.840 you're saying. 257 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:14.320 Absolutely. I mean, as humans, we thrive on connection and 258 00:15:14.440 --> 00:15:18.720 community building, and unfortunately, in nursing home facilities it doesn't 259 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:22.279 happen as often as it should, and too often, because 260 00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:27.480 of underpaid workers and funding, it becomes scarce, you know, 261 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:31.159 and that's that's dangerous for the human personality. And so 262 00:15:32.039 --> 00:15:35.159 independent Living Centers have made it a mission to get 263 00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:37.679 people out of nursing homes and back into the community 264 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:41.159 with the right resources. And so we have one of 265 00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:45.440 our staff members, her name is Katricia, who works hand 266 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:48.200 in hand in working with folks that are in nursing 267 00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:50.679 homes and getting them out of there and back in 268 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:53.919 their own place. And we have a couple of stories 269 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:57.639 there that are inspirational where folks have been in the 270 00:15:57.720 --> 00:16:00.919 nursing home for eighteen months, two years, three years, waiting 271 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:04.360 to get out and back into the community. They're there, 272 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:08.919 you know there, you know, their somber expressions, their their 273 00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:11.799 their frustrations and being in the nursing home and not 274 00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:14.440 wanting to be there for much longer. You know, it 275 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:16.559 gets to you and and I and I've seen the 276 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:19.519 work that Katricia has done to make sure that they 277 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:22.120 feel encouraged to empower them. Hey, we have more a 278 00:16:22.200 --> 00:16:24.120 couple more steps here to go to get you out. 279 00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:29.320 We're working with you and the beauty is when we 280 00:16:29.559 --> 00:16:33.759 finally get them out. We have established an apartment, we 281 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:38.480 have furniture that we have purchased for them all included 282 00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:40.440 a part of this program and grant that we're a 283 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:43.799 part of, and and finally seeing their face when they're 284 00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:47.039 walking into their apartment for the first time, knowing that 285 00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:50.039 this is their home now in the community that they're in, 286 00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:53.480 is one of the most precious things that that we 287 00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:57.759 see every single time. You know, we want one transition 288 00:16:57.879 --> 00:17:01.799 from a nursing home to the community is an amazing thing, 289 00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:04.359 and we get to do several throughout the year, which 290 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:08.119 is awesome. And then another one I'll share on the 291 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:12.000 side of our veterans. We have a Veterans Department services 292 00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:16.039 that we provide to our veterans with PTSD traumatic brain injuries. 293 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:20.119 You know, we had an individual. You know, our veterans 294 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:22.960 do walks in the mall, you know, and they scale 295 00:17:23.079 --> 00:17:25.960 all different levels of the floors of the mall to 296 00:17:26.119 --> 00:17:30.720 do several miles and do that together as a point 297 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:35.200 of camaraderie and point of building connection and getting working 298 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:39.440 with each other and avoiding isolation. We had a veteran 299 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:42.400 that was stuck in their home. We got reports and 300 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:46.960 a referral. He was stuck in his home for for months. 301 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:52.359 He wouldn't come out the individual never reached out to us, 302 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:55.839 but we got calls from friends and family. When we 303 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:58.359 went to go visit the veteran, it was one of 304 00:17:58.440 --> 00:18:01.480 the most scariest circumstances. So you can imagine the veteran 305 00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:05.839 was sitting on his couch with a gun right next 306 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:09.680 to his couch on a table. You know, we know 307 00:18:09.799 --> 00:18:12.640 the veterans suicide. I mean, I think the numbers twenty 308 00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:17.200 two or something of that nature, every every hour, every day. 309 00:18:18.039 --> 00:18:22.759 It's atrocious, yes, And this program under the Veterans Department 310 00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:26.480 called the Joseph P. Dwyer, named after a medic veteran 311 00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:30.920 Army veteran who is known for and his pictures all over. 312 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:36.119 He's saving a young boy but comes back home without 313 00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:39.960 an ability to transition to civilian life and unfortunately dealing 314 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:43.160 with his own demons and mental health, and you know, 315 00:18:43.319 --> 00:18:46.920 overdoses and loses his life at trash. 316 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:50.279 To Carlos, my brother in law, my sister's husband, a 317 00:18:50.359 --> 00:18:54.279 medic in Vietnam, the exact exactly. So I am so 318 00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:56.759 relating to what So forgive me for interrupt but I 319 00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:59.480 just had to so emotional for me to hear. These 320 00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:03.680 are real people, real stories. But please continue on the 321 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:05.359 pop citive side here please. 322 00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:10.039 Yeah, no, and Frank, please interrupt whatever, you know, But I. 323 00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:13.039 Just wanted to share with you that we're out. 324 00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:15.720 There definitely, you know. And that's something that the Dwire 325 00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:19.400 program strives to do every single day, is to is 326 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:22.920 to eliminate veteran suicide the best way we can. So 327 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:28.039 in that circumstance, our team went in and saw this individual, 328 00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:31.000 was able to have a really good conversation with him 329 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:35.960 to get him from that dark place. And it didn't 330 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:38.720 take long before now that veteran is not walking with 331 00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:41.640 the group of veterans every week here at the mall, 332 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:44.960 you know. And it was so inspiring to see that 333 00:19:45.079 --> 00:19:48.559 because who else could have done that, aside from the 334 00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:53.519 brothers and sisters that served alongside in the military. Knowing 335 00:19:53.640 --> 00:19:57.079 his circumstances, knowing what he's going through his head, there 336 00:19:57.160 --> 00:20:00.079 was nothing better than to have folks go in and 337 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:03.559 help him get out of that dark place. And that's 338 00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:05.759 what the Dyre program does every day. I mean, we 339 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:09.599 work with justice involved veterans, veterans that are involved at 340 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:14.200 the police or involved or you know, incarcerated or you know, 341 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:18.359 or have mental health breakdowns. And our team is going 342 00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:21.319 out there called by a call to help support these 343 00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:23.240 veterans and let them know they're not alone, that they're 344 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:27.640 here to help support them, and to just connect, just 345 00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:29.839 to talk. You know, even if it's just as simple 346 00:20:29.880 --> 00:20:32.920 as that, it's all that's needed to help, you know, 347 00:20:33.079 --> 00:20:36.880 undo a burden and help hopefully bring some healing to 348 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:37.559 that veteran. 349 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:41.279 He just answered part B of my next question, which 350 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:44.720 were the rewards, which are pretty obvious and if you 351 00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:46.920 can see people can't see us, they can only hear us. 352 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:49.240 But the smile that comes to you say, knowing that 353 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:53.119 you do have successes. But of course with the success 354 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:57.559 there are challenges. It's not easy. It can't be. Obviously 355 00:20:58.079 --> 00:21:01.359 you're dealing with people who have difficult it's become your difficulties. 356 00:21:01.880 --> 00:21:05.359 What would you say that personally and professional? What are 357 00:21:05.400 --> 00:21:08.559 the greatest challenges that you fix? Yeah? 358 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:14.720 Absolutely, I mean I think the challenges you know, and 359 00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:17.480 and I hate to say this, but it's it always 360 00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:20.640 boils down to how do we get this job done 361 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:23.640 right if if we don't have the funding for it. 362 00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:26.119 You know, we're going to talk about that after the 363 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:26.880 break in detail. 364 00:21:27.079 --> 00:21:30.240 Please it now, please definitely, you know, and I think 365 00:21:30.359 --> 00:21:33.880 that's one challenge that impacts us as a nonprofit and 366 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:37.720 is not uncommon to every nonprofit out there, you know. 367 00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:40.160 And I think the other challenge is making sure that 368 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:42.519 people know that we're here right every time we hear 369 00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:46.799 of a veteran losing their life, every time we hear 370 00:21:47.559 --> 00:21:51.200 that a person with a disability couldn't get out of 371 00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:54.640 a nursing home and ended up passing away there, every 372 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:58.160 time we hear of someone losing their job because they 373 00:21:58.200 --> 00:22:04.119 weren't afforded the opportunity towards reasonable accommodations. Those are areas 374 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:08.359 where we just wish and hope we could be known 375 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:12.680 to these people before these circumstances reach that point, uh, 376 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:15.519 and where we could be a guiding voice and support. 377 00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:19.200 That's why, that's why our services is not just for individuals. 378 00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:22.359 It's for businesses too. Businesses can reach out to us 379 00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:25.680 and say, hey, you know, I'm hiring folks, some folks 380 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:28.400 have disabilities. How do I work with these individuals to 381 00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:31.799 make sure they're set up for success? And you know, 382 00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:33.880 and and and it takes a lot to do that 383 00:22:34.039 --> 00:22:36.960 because as a business owner, we understand you've built something 384 00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:40.039 that you want to grow. We understand that it's your baby, 385 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:43.160 and you know who is ever anybody else to tell 386 00:22:43.160 --> 00:22:45.400 you what to do right right? But at the end 387 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:48.880 of the day, you're hiring humans. We're all humans, and 388 00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:51.400 we all have needs, and we all have desires, and 389 00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:54.759 we all have dreams, and you know you can't fulfill those, 390 00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:57.599 but you can work with us. And working with each 391 00:22:57.640 --> 00:23:00.559 other just helps you become that much better of a 392 00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:03.799 of a boss, of a leader, of a business owner 393 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:06.680 that cares for its community. And you're not we're not 394 00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:10.799 talking about giving things away, but but working with folks 395 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:13.799 at their level and where they need it is just 396 00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:18.359 one step and becoming a more accessible and even an 397 00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:19.400 inclusive employer. 398 00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:23.400 So a perfect segue, I asked one. 399 00:23:23.720 --> 00:23:29.599 Uh oh, I love your sweater. I'm I'm a graduate. 400 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:31.319 And I can't see I got my fore, I got 401 00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:36.759